Iowa Space Grant Consortium mourns the passing of Dr. Sugumaran

January 26, 2017

It is with great sadness that we announce the death of former Iowa Space Grant Consortium Director, Dr. Ramanathan Sugumaran.

Dr. Ramanathan Sugumaran 1967-2017

Dr. Sugumaran (Sugu) served as the director of the consortium from 2010-2013. Sugu was a professor at the University of Northern Iowa and the University of Iowa during his tenure as director. Sugu led the consortium during its transition from Iowa State University to UNI in 2010.

Sugu’s connection with the consortium goes back before he was named the director, when he was a funded researcher and base program manager at UNI in 2006. Sugu founded and ran the GeoTREE Center at UNIwhich supported the use of geospatial technologies in the state of Iowa.

Sugu had a passion for research, studying satellite and aerial remote sensing, GIS, and Spatial Decision Support Systems. He served as PI or Co-PI for over $10 million in extramural research grants, which were funded by over a dozen organizations. He authored, co-authored, prepared, and delivered over 100 presentations, 30 plus peer reviewed technical journal articles, seven book chapeters, 25 conference proceeding articles, and one book.

Sugu is survived by his wife Vanitha, two sons, Sriram and Srivishnu, parents, Chandra and Ramanathan, a brother, Ezhilmaran, and sister, Chitra, and other family in India.